If you remember 1997 like it was yesterday, the word 'Tamagotchi' may well be loaded for you too. Striking terror in then-parents hunting one down, notes of obsession in anyone who wanted or had one, and crushing FOMO if you were the only kid in school without one, the virtual pet craze was as intense as it was fleeting.
Spawning Digimon, GigaPets, NanoPets, and even a pocket LCD Pikachu that doubled up as a pedometer so you could earn in-game currency by pounding that pavement, Tamagotchis were the OG. Unlike most copycats, the cutesy illustrated Tamagotchi – or “Tama” as it’s lovingly known by fans – is still kicking about, celebrating 25 years of virtual petting a couple of years ago.
